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Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies

Future Planet Project collaboration with Ruhuna University

17 February 2026

Since 2020, the University of Amsterdam has been collaborating with Ruhuna University in Sri Lanka. As part of this collaboration, Future Planet Studies students travel to Sri Lanka every year to conduct research on coastal challenges and development. Since this year, this collaboration has been further expanded thanks to the award of the Erasmus+ grant. This is the second time this grant has been awarded within the UvA, making it even more special!

The students are currently working together online as part of the Future Planet Project course. The Future Planet Project is intended to give students practical experience with the process and dynamics of carrying out an interdisciplinary project. They work on projects related to coastal development, ranging from food production, pollution, infrastructure, and flood protection to tourism and more. These complex challenges require integrated perspectives and joint solutions.

On February 23, 2026, five students will come to the Netherlands together with Nilantha de Silva and Madushika Perera (both from the Ruhuna University, Agricultural Economics Department) to partake in an intensive programme and present the findings of their project work. This year, the Future Planet Project is therefore not only interdisciplinary but also intercultural, thanks to this unique collaboration.

In March 2026, eight third-year Future Planet Studies students will travel to Sri Lanka together with Naima Starkloff from IBED, Joeri Scholtens from GPIO, and Jaap Rothuizen from IIS to conduct research into the coastal challenges there.